Cut-out



(No Model.)

0. B. STORY.

GUT-OUT Patented Jan. 21, 1890.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. STORY, OF BRUNSWICK, MAINE.

CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,733, dated January 21, 1890.

Application filed April 9, 1889. Serial No. 306,578. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES B. STORY, of Brunswick, county of Cumberland, State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Electric Cut-Outs, of which the following description, in connection with. the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel cut-out especially adapted to be em ployed on incandescent electric-light and power circuits.

In accordance with my invention a preferably hollow base provided with two or more sets of contact-arms, each set comprising two contact-arms to which the circuit-wires are connected, has co-operating with it a plug adapted to be pushed between the said contact-arms, the said plug being provided with two sets of contact-arms which make a slidin g contact with the contact-arms on the base, the contact-arms on the said plug being joined by a fusible connection-such as a wire or strip of meta1-having a low melting-point. My invention therefore consists, essentially, in the combination, with a hollowbase provided on its inner side with contact-arms having stems extended through the said base and to which the line-wires are connected, of a plug provided with contact-arms on its periphery to co-operate with the contact-arms on the base and form a sliding contact therewith, and a fusible connection between the said contact-arms, substantially as described.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a cutout embodying my invent-ion on line as 00, Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a top or plan view of the base with the plug removed, and Fig. 3 an under side View of the plug removed from the base.

The hollow base A, preferably made of wood or other insulating material, is provided on its inner side with two sets of oontactrarms, comprising. four contact-arms a a b 1), preferably of metal. The contact-arms b b are herein shown as provided with stems Z), which are extended through the base A, and which are secured to the said base by screws b b and a metallic washer b between which and the said base the branches or line-wires b b of one circuit, preferably the main circuit, are firmly clamped. The contact-arms a a are also provided, as herein shown, with stems a which are extended through walls or sides of the hollow base, and to which the branches or line-wires a a of a branch circuit in which are located" the incandescent lamps (not shown) are secured, as by screws a a.

The hollow base A receives within it aplug 0, preferably of wood or other non-conducting material, provided, as shown, with a haddle or knob c. The plug 0 is providedon its periphery with contact-arms 0 c 0 which co-operate with the contact-arms on the base A. Each contact-arm c c c c is preferably made, as herein shown, in the form of aright angle, one portion of which is firmly secured to the base, as by screws 0, and the other portion of which is extended up the side of the plug, and provided at its end with a flange or projection 0 which bears against the side of the plug and imparts spring properties to the portion of the contact-arm extended up the side of the said plug. The contact-arm c of one set is connected by fusible material, preferably a wire d, to one contact-arm c of 1e secon se an e n c r ntl d t, d th co t'tcta mc 1s co I nected by a fuse-wire d to the contact-arm 0 In operation the plug 0 is pushed or inserted into the hollow base between the contactarms, and thereby connection made between the contact-arms, which, as shown in Fig. 1, is as follows, viz: the contact-arms c c are in contact with the arms I; b, and the arms 0 c with the arms a a. The circuit through the incandescent lamp in the branch wires a a, and not herein shown, may be traced as follows, viz: from the positive wire I) through the contact-arms b 0 fuse-wire d, contactarms 0 a, line a through the lamp, line a, contact-arms a c, fuse-wire d, and contactarms 0 b, to negative line-wire 17 The fuse-wires d d protect the incandescent lamps from being burned out by an abnormal current. The plug may be readily removed from the hollow base and the fusewires, when burned out, quickly replaced. The plug is held in place in the hollow base, as herein shown, by the friction between the contact-arms on the said plug and base; but it may be held in place, as by a pin or catch.

I prefer to secure the fuse-wires to the contact-arms on the plug; but it is evident they may be secured to the contact-arms on the base. So, also,I do not desire to limit my invention to a hollow base, as it is evident the contact-arms b b a a may be secured to a fiat base.

ICC

1. In a cutout, the combination, with a hollow base provided on its inner side with contact-arms having stems extended through said base, and to which the line-wires are connected, of a plug provided with contact-arms on its periphery to co-operate with the contact-arms on the base and form a sliding contact therewith, and a fusible connection between the contact-arnis, substantially as described.

2. In a cut-out, the combination, with ahollow base provided on its inner side with two sets of contact-arms having stems extendedthrough said base and to which the line-wires are connected, of a plug provided on its periphery with two sets of contact-arms to form with the contact-arms on the base a sliding contact and a fusible connection between said contact-arms, substantially as described.

3. In a cut-out, the combination, with a hollow base provided with two sets of contactarms, to which two circuit-wires are connected, one circuit being connected through the bottom of the base and the other through the sides of the base, of a plug provided on its periphery with two sets of contact-arms to cooperate with the contact-arms on the base and form therewith a sliding contact and a fusible connection between the contact-arms on the plug, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. STORY. Witnessesz' HARRY F. THOMPSON, J. P. W INCHELL. 

